Mission: The Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health (GPBCH) represents the employer community
in working with health plans, health care providers, and other system stakeholders to improve the value of
health benefit spending for its members, by improving healthcare quality and safety and reducing health care
costs. The Coalition is committed to maintaining and improving the health and productivity of the region’s
workforce, and to ensuring that when health care is needed it is accessible, affordable, high-quality, and safe.
Rationale: The United States continues to spend more on healthcare than any other nation and the rate of
healthcare cost increase continues to dramatically outpace general inflation. Despite this commitment of
resources, the U.S. ranks poorly on almost all measures of access, quality, safety, timeliness, and efficiency.
Key research findings regarding the U.S. healthcare system include:
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Between 100,000 and 400,000 people die each year in hospitals due to medical errors
When an American visits a physician there’s a 50-50 chance of getting care in accordance with
guidelines
Studies have estimated that between 25% and 50% of current spending is waste (overuse, inappropriate
use, administration, etc.)
40 cents of every dollar spent on managing common chronic conditions is spent on complications that
potentially could have been avoided
Over the last 10 years, many employers have begun engaging in “value-based purchasing” of health benefits in
order to influence change in their markets, reduce costs, and improve quality, safety, and value. Around the
country, over 50 regional business coalitions, including GPBCH, are engaged in the value-based purchasing
movement.
Membership: GPBCH is a membership organization open to employers located in, or having a significant
employed population in, the Greater Philadelphia region: Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware and
Chester Counties in Pennsylvania; Camden, Burlington and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey, and New Castle
County in Delaware. Affiliated memberships are open to all individuals and organizations working with, or on
behalf of, employers in the Coalition’s service region. A list of current members is maintained on the
Coalition’s website, www.gpbch.org.
Benefits of Membership: GPBCH is the employers’ voice in meeting with health plans, providers, and other
system stakeholders to develop and implement programs designed to improve the value of health benefits
through improving quality, safety and efficiency, and controlling costs by reducing waste in health care
spending. GPBCH determines its operating agenda with member input. Members have the opportunity, but are
not required, to participate in value-enhancement initiatives. Additional benefits include:
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Free attendance (up to two registrants per program) at monthly educational events and annual
conference
Monthly e-mailed updates on value-based purchasing activities within GPBCH and nationally, relevant
publications and resources, and scheduled events
Networking and discussion opportunities with other regional employers
Access to competitively-priced group purchasing for pharmacy, vision, dental, EAP, data warehouse,
and more!
Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health 123 South Broad Street, Suite 1235 Philadelphia, PA 19109 215-­‐800-­‐1066 www.gpbch.org Activities: The President and Board of Directors set the agenda for coalition activities. Coalition members
voluntarily participate in work groups that reflect the organization’s main areas of activity:
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Transparency: Creating and disseminating information on provider-specific quality, safety, and
pricing, to help consumers make informed care-seeking choices
Changing the Healthcare Landscape: Developing best practices to promote use of primary care and
preventive services, including patient-centered medical homes, in order to avoid E.R. visits and other
costly episodes of care
Value-based Insurance Design: Helping employers to implement benefit designs that promote highvalue services (e.g. reducing or eliminating co-pays for select high-value chronic care medications) and
that discourage use of low-value services
Employee Health and Well-being: Creating a forum for identifying and disseminating best practices
for employee health and consumer engagement
GPBCH also represents employers in working with other organizations in Greater Philadelphia (e.g. local public
health authorities; local chapters of the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and American
Diabetes Association; and other not-for-profits committed to improving population health in the region) on
delivery system redesign, payment reform, and other initiatives within the Coalition’s mission.
Governance Structure: GPBCH is a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation. A Board of Directors consisting of
representatives from the organization’s membership meets monthly to develop strategy, review progress in
meeting program objectives, and oversee operations. GPBCH is a member of the National Business Coalition on
Health (NBCH, the national coalition of regional coalitions, www.nbch.org), providing access to NBCH tools
and educational programs, and opportunities to learn from other NBCH member coalitions.
Dues Structure: Dues are invoiced annually by GPBCH. For employers, membership dues are based on total
number of employees in the GPBCH service area.
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Employers: $5/full time employee, with a minimum of $2,500 (<500 employees) and a maximum of
$10,000 (>2,000 employees)
Affiliated Members: $ 5,000
For more information, or to request a membership application, please contact:
Neil I. Goldfarb, President
Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health
123 South Broad Street, Suite 1235
Philadelphia, PA 19109
215-731-2472
[email protected]
www.gpbch.org
Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health 123 South Broad Street, Suite 1235 Philadelphia, PA 19109 215-­‐800-­‐1066 www.gpbch.org